These picks are not as easy as they might seem.
As we reported last week, Joseph Dycus, the newcomer to the Bay Area News Group’s high school sports staff, brushed up on the local prep football scene by listening to all the prediction videos from last season on his drive from Tennessee.
He also did his research in advance of last week’s season-opening show.
He seemed ready for a big debut weekend in our all-in-fun picks competition. Then the games kicked off, and some of the kid’s picks went a little sideways.
No need to worry. We’ve all been there.
After one week, Mike Lefkow and yours truly have opened a three-game lead on Dycus. Lefkow and I both went 9-6. The kid finished 6-9.
But the good news for Dycus is there’s a chance to bounce back in Week 2. We pick 15 more games, highlighted by the huge one Friday night as Serra — ranked No. 2 by the Bay Area News Group — travels to top-ranked De La Salle.
We also pick Bellarmine at McClymonds, Del Oro-Loomis at Clayton Valley Charter, Campolindo at Aptos and others.
In addition to the picks, this week’s video includes Dycus’ first impression of Bay Area football — he was in Pittsburg on Friday night and Menlo-Atherton on Saturday — and my thoughts on Serra’s narrow win on the road in a heavyweight matchup against Folsom.
If you want just the predictions, keep scrolling.
Also, if you haven’t already, please subscribe here for digital access all season long.
Enjoy the video.
WEEK 2 PICKS
Thursday
Hollister (1-0) at Wilcox (1-0), 7 p.m.
Sabedra: Wilcox
Dycus: Wilcox
Lefkow: Wilcox
Piedmont Hills (1-0) at Christopher (1-0), 7 p.m.
Sabedra: Christopher
Dycus: Christopher
Lefkow: Christopher
Kennedy-Fremont (0-1) at Washington-Fremont (1-0), 7 p.m.
Sabedra: Washington
Dycus: Kennedy
Lefkow: Washington
Friday
Las Lomas (0-1) at James Logan (0-1), 7 p.m.
Sabedra: Las Lomas
Dycus: Las Lomas
Lefkow: James Logan
Liberty (1-0) at Los Gatos (0-1), 7 p.m.
Sabedra: Los Gatos
Dycus: Los Gatos
Lefkow: Los Gatos
Leigh (0-1) at Pioneer (1-0), 7 p.m.
Sabedra: Pioneer
Dycus: Pioneer
Lefkow: Pioneer
Heritage (1-0) at Granada (0-1), 7 p.m.
Sabedra: Heritage
Dycus: Heritage
Lefkow: Heritage
Del Oro (2-0) at Clayton Valley Charter (0-1), 7 p.m.
Sabedra: Del Oro
Dycus: Clayton Valley
Lefkow: Clayton Valley
Archbishop Mitty (1-0) at Mountain View (1-0), 7 p.m.
Sabedra: Mitty
Dycus: Mountain View
Lefkow: Mitty
Alhambra (1-0) at Livermore (1-0), 7 p.m.
Sabedra: Livermore
Dycus: Livermore
Lefkow: Livermore
Monterey Trail-Elk Grove (0-2) at St. Francis (1-0), 7:15 p.m.
Sabedra: St. Francis
Dycus: St. Francis
Lefkow: St. Francis
Bellarmine (0-1) at McClymonds (0-0), 7:30 p.m.
Sabedra: Bellarmine
Dycus: McClymonds
Lefkow: Bellarmine
Campolindo (1-0) at Aptos (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
Sabedra: Aptos
Dycus: Campolindo
Lefkow: Aptos
Serra (1-0) at De La Salle (1-0), 8 p.m.
Sabedra: De La Salle
Dycus: Serra
Lefkow: De La Salle
Saturday
Pittsburg (1-0) vs. Liberty-Henderson, Nev. (1-1) at Cathedral Catholic HS in San Diego, noon
Sabedra: Liberty
Dycus: Liberty
Lefkow: Pittsburg
WEEK 1 RESULTS
Mountain View 35, The King’s Academy 20
Sabedra: Mountain View (W)
Dycus: Mountain View (W)
Lefkow: The King’s Academy (L)
El Cerrito 7, Amador Valley 3
Sabedra: El Cerrito (W)
Dycus: Amador Valley (L)
Lefkow: El Cerrito (W)
Antioch 57, Monte Vista 28
Sabedra: Monte Vista (L)
Dycus: Monte Vista (L)
Lefkow: Antioch (W)
St. Francis 35, Central Catholic-Modesto 28
Sabedra: St. Francis (W)
Dycus: St. Francis (W)
Lefkow: St. Francis (W)
Corona del Mar-Newport Beach 28, Los Gatos 14
Sabedra: Corona del Mar (W)
Dycus: Los Gatos (L)
Lefkow: Corona del Mar (W)
California 31, James Logan 7
Sabedra: James Logan (L)
Dycus: James Logan (L)
Lefkow: James Logan (L)
Miramonte 48, Berkeley 20
Sabedra: Miramonte (W)
Dycus: Miramonte (W)
Lefkow: Miramonte (W)
St. Ignatius 41, Palo Alto 6
Sabedra: St. Ignatius (W)
Dycus: St. Ignatius (W)
Lefkow: St. Ignatius (W)
Pioneer 20, Santa Teresa 14
Sabedra: Santa Teresa (L)
Dycus: Santa Teresa (L)
Lefkow: Santa Teresa (L)
Rancho Cotate 42, Las Lomas 16
Sabedra: Las Lomas (L)
Dycus: Las Lomas (L)
Lefkow: Rancho Cotate (W)
San Ramon Valley 41, Vintage 7
Sabedra: San Ramon Valley (W)
Dycus: Vintage (L)
Lefkow: Vintage (L)
Wilcox 35, Valley Christian 13
Sabedra: Wilcox (W)
Dycus: Wilcox (W)
Lefkow: Wilcox (W)
Salinas 21, Clayton Valley Charter 14
Sabedra: Clayton Valley (L)
Dycus: Clayton Valley (L)
Lefkow: Clayton Valley (L)
Serra 17, Folsom 12
Sabedra: Serra (W)
Dycus: Serra (W)
Lefkow: Serra (W)
Menlo-Atherton 48, Bellarmine 34
Sabedra: Bellarmine (L)
Dycus: Bellarmine (L)
Lefkow: Bellarmine (L)
SEASON STANDINGS
Sabedra: 9-6
Lefkow: 9-6
Dycus: 6-9
Source: www.mercurynews.com